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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

Non-Human Primates In Neuroscience Research: The Case Against Its Scientific Necessity, Jarrod Bailey, Katy Taylor Sep 2016

Non-Human Primates In Neuroscience Research: The Case Against Its Scientific Necessity, Jarrod Bailey, Katy Taylor

Jarrod Bailey, PhD

Public opposition to non-human primate (NHP) experiments is significant, yet those who defend them cite minimal harm to NHPs and substantial human benefit. Here we review these claims of benefit, specifically in neuroscience, and show that: a) there is a default assumption of their human relevance and benefit, rather than robust evidence; b) their human relevance and essential contribution and necessity are wholly overstated; c) the contribution and capacity of non-animal investigative methods are greatly understated; and d) confounding issues, such as species differences and the effects of stress and anaesthesia, are usually overlooked. This is the case in NHP …


Social Knowledge, Keith Jensen, Joan B. Silk, Kristin Andrews, Redouan Bshary, Dorothy L. Cheney, Nathan Emery, Charlotte K. Hemelrijk, Kay Holekamp, Derek C. Penn, Josef Perner, Christoph Teufel Sep 2016

Social Knowledge, Keith Jensen, Joan B. Silk, Kristin Andrews, Redouan Bshary, Dorothy L. Cheney, Nathan Emery, Charlotte K. Hemelrijk, Kay Holekamp, Derek C. Penn, Josef Perner, Christoph Teufel

Kristin Andrews, PhD

The social milieus of animals can be complex, ranging from almost completely asocial to monogamous pairs (no mean feat) to entire societies. To adapt to a constantly shifting environment of individuals striving toward their own goals, animals appear to have evolved specialized cognitive abilities. As appealing and intuitive as the idea of social cognition is, just defi ning it is diffi cult. We attempted to delineate social cognition, speculate on its adaptive value, and come to an understanding of what we mean when we talk about complexity. Transitive inference was often brought up as an example of a cognitive ability …


Defining Behavioral And Molecular Differences Between Summer And Migratory Monarch Butterflies, Haisun Zhu, Robert Gegear, Amy Casselman, Sriramana Kanginakudru, Steven Reppert Dec 2015

Defining Behavioral And Molecular Differences Between Summer And Migratory Monarch Butterflies, Haisun Zhu, Robert Gegear, Amy Casselman, Sriramana Kanginakudru, Steven Reppert

Robert J. Gegear

BACKGROUND: In the fall, Eastern North American monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) undergo a magnificent long-range migration. In contrast to spring and summer butterflies, fall migrants are juvenile hormone deficient, which leads to reproductive arrest and increased longevity. Migrants also use a time-compensated sun compass to help them navigate in the south/southwesterly direction en route for Mexico. Central issues in this area are defining the relationship between juvenile hormone status and oriented flight, critical features that differentiate summer monarchs from fall migrants, and identifying molecular correlates of behavioral state. RESULTS: Here we show that increasing juvenile hormone activity to induce summer-like …


Assessing The Feasibility Of Acceptance And Commitment Therapy In Promoting Psychological Adjustment After Severe Traumatic Brain Injury, Diane Whiting, Grahame Simpson, Joseph Ciarrochi, Hamish Mcleod Jul 2015

Assessing The Feasibility Of Acceptance And Commitment Therapy In Promoting Psychological Adjustment After Severe Traumatic Brain Injury, Diane Whiting, Grahame Simpson, Joseph Ciarrochi, Hamish Mcleod

joseph Ciarrochi

This study evaluated the feasibility of a treatment program utilising Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to address psychological adjustment to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). ACT focuses on persons’ relationship with internal experiences such as thoughts, emotions and memories in order for them to live a life consistent with their values. Treatment goals include increasing psychological flexibility, participation in valued life roles and reducing psychological distress. Method: Two participants (both male, P1 aged 20 years, P2 aged 28 years) with severe TBI and demonstrating psychological distress, as measured by the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS- 588 Abstract Brain Inj …


Relative Volume Of The Cerebellum In Dolphins And Comparison With Anthropoid Primates, L. Marino, James K. Rilling, Shinko K. Lin, Sam H. Ridgway Jun 2015

Relative Volume Of The Cerebellum In Dolphins And Comparison With Anthropoid Primates, L. Marino, James K. Rilling, Shinko K. Lin, Sam H. Ridgway

Lori Marino, PhD

According to the ‘developmental constraint hypothesis’ of comparative mammalian neuroanatomy, brain growth follows predictable allometric trends. Therefore, brain structures should scale to the entire brain in the same way across mammals. Evidence for a departure from this pattern for cerebellum volume has recently been reported among the anthropoid primates. One of the mammalian groups that has been neglected in tests of the ‘developmental constraint hypothesis’ is the cetaceans (dolphins, whales, and porpoises). Because many cetaceans possess relative brain sizes in the range of primates comparative tests of the ‘developmental constraint hypothesis’ across these two groups could help to delineate the …


Post-Transcriptional Regulation Of Myelin Formation, Nancy Zearfoss, Brian Farley, Sean Ryder May 2015

Post-Transcriptional Regulation Of Myelin Formation, Nancy Zearfoss, Brian Farley, Sean Ryder

Sean P. Ryder

Myelin is a specialized structure of the nervous system that both enhances electrical conductance and protects neurons from degeneration. In the central nervous system, extensively polarized oligodendrocytes form myelin by wrapping cellular processes in a spiral pattern around neuronal axons. Myelin formation requires the oligodendrocyte to regulate gene expression in response to changes in its extracellular environment. Because these changes occur at a distance from the cell body, post-transcriptional control of gene expression allows the cell to fine-tune its response. Here, we review the RNA-binding proteins that control myelin formation in the brain, highlighting the molecular mechanisms by which they …


Characterizing Tissue Fate After Transient Cerebral Ischemia Of Varying Duration Using Quantitative Diffusion And Perfusion Imaging, Juergen Bardutzky, Qiang Shen, Nils Henninger, Stefan Schwab, Timothy Duong, Marc Fisher Apr 2015

Characterizing Tissue Fate After Transient Cerebral Ischemia Of Varying Duration Using Quantitative Diffusion And Perfusion Imaging, Juergen Bardutzky, Qiang Shen, Nils Henninger, Stefan Schwab, Timothy Duong, Marc Fisher

Nils Henninger

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of reperfusion on ischemic lesion evolution and pixel-by-pixel apparent diffusion coefficient-cerebral blood flow (ADC-CBF) dynamics of core and mismatch tissues after 35, 60, and 95 minutes of transient focal ischemia in rats (n=28). METHODS: Serial diffusion-, perfusion-, and T2-weighted imaging were performed up to 24 hours. The evolution of the magnetic resonance image-derived lesion volume was investigated and ADC-CBF scatterplots were performed to prospectively characterize the ADC and CBF dynamics of core and mismatch tissues with different fates. For comparison, similar analysis was performed on a historical …


Ischemic Lesion Volume Determination On Diffusion Weighted Images Vs. Apparent Diffusion Coefficient Maps, Bernt Bratane, Birgül Bastan, Marc Fisher, James Bouley, Nils Henninger Apr 2015

Ischemic Lesion Volume Determination On Diffusion Weighted Images Vs. Apparent Diffusion Coefficient Maps, Bernt Bratane, Birgül Bastan, Marc Fisher, James Bouley, Nils Henninger

Nils Henninger

Though diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) is frequently used for identifying the ischemic lesion in focal cerebral ischemia, the understanding of spatiotemporal evolution patterns observed with different analysis methods remains imprecise. DWI and calculated apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps were serially obtained in rat stroke models (MCAO): permanent, 90 min, and 180 min temporary MCAO. Lesion volumes were analyzed in a blinded and randomized manner by 2 investigators using (i) a previously validated ADC threshold, (ii) visual determination of hypointense regions on ADC maps, and (iii) visual determination of hyperintense regions on DWI. Lesion volumes were correlated with 24 hour 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazoliumchloride …


Xk Aprosencephaly And Anencephaly In Sibs, Phillip Townes, Karen Reuter, E. Rosquete, B. Magee Nov 2014

Xk Aprosencephaly And Anencephaly In Sibs, Phillip Townes, Karen Reuter, E. Rosquete, B. Magee

B. Dale Magee

Recent studies have suggested a causal and pathogenetic relationship between holoprosencephaly and anencephaly. In support of the proposed relationship we report a sibship that includes anencephalic male twins and a female infant with a severe form of alobar holoprosencephaly, radial aplasia, and oligodactyly. The upper limb and brain malformations are considered to represent aprosencephaly syndrome. The coexistence of anencephaly and aprosencephaly within a sibship suggests that XK aprosencephaly syndrome may be an autosomal recessive disorder.


Acute Modulation Of Sugar Transport In Brain Capillary Endothelial Cell Cultures During Activation Of The Metabolic Stress Pathway, Anthony Cura, Anthony Carruthers Mar 2014

Acute Modulation Of Sugar Transport In Brain Capillary Endothelial Cell Cultures During Activation Of The Metabolic Stress Pathway, Anthony Cura, Anthony Carruthers

Anthony J. Cura

GLUT1-catalyzed equilibrative sugar transport across the mammalian blood-brain barrier is stimulated during acute and chronic metabolic stress; however, the mechanism of acute transport regulation is unknown. We have examined acute sugar transport regulation in the murine brain microvasculature endothelial cell line bEnd.3. Acute cellular metabolic stress was induced by glucose depletion, by potassium cyanide, or by carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone, which reduce or deplete intracellular ATP within 15 min. This results in a 1.7-7-fold increase in V(max) for zero-trans 3-O-methylglucose uptake (sugar uptake into sugar-free cells) and a 3-10-fold increase in V(max) for equilibrium exchange transport (intracellular [sugar] = extracellular [sugar]). …


The Rhesus Monkey Brain In Stereotaxic Coordinates, George Paxinos, Xu-Feng Huang, Arthur Toga Apr 2013

The Rhesus Monkey Brain In Stereotaxic Coordinates, George Paxinos, Xu-Feng Huang, Arthur Toga

Xu-Feng Huang

From the Back Cover The Rhesus Monkey Brain in Stereotaxic Coordinates is the most comprehensive, detailed atlas of the monkey brain ever constructed. The first chapter, "Photographic and Diagrammatic Atlas of the Rhesus Monkey Brain," presents 151 plates illustrating the subcortex and parts of the cortex in high magnification, and 151 corresponding diagrams complementing each image. The second chapter, "Delineation of the Rhesus Monkey Cortex on the Basis of the Distribution of a Neurofilament Protein," consists of 64 fully labeled plates depicting an entire hemisphere. Jointly, the two chapters constitute the most serious morphological work ever undertaken on the monkey. …


Effect Of Chronic Treatment With Clozapine And Haloperidol On 5- Ht2a And 2c Receptor Mrna Expression In The Rat Brain, Xu-Feng Huang, Qing Wang, Yean Yeow Tan Sep 2012

Effect Of Chronic Treatment With Clozapine And Haloperidol On 5- Ht2a And 2c Receptor Mrna Expression In The Rat Brain, Xu-Feng Huang, Qing Wang, Yean Yeow Tan

Xu-Feng Huang

No abstract provided.


Chronic Treatment With Simvastatin Upregulates Muscarinic M1/4 Receptor Binding In The Rat Brain, Kelly Newell, P Wong, Xu-Feng Huang, Qing Wang, Wilfred Yeo, P Wang, Weihai Ying, Midori Yenari, Ayse Zengin Sep 2012

Chronic Treatment With Simvastatin Upregulates Muscarinic M1/4 Receptor Binding In The Rat Brain, Kelly Newell, P Wong, Xu-Feng Huang, Qing Wang, Wilfred Yeo, P Wang, Weihai Ying, Midori Yenari, Ayse Zengin

Xu-Feng Huang

Statins are increasingly being used for the treatment of a variety of conditions beyond their original indication for cholesterol lowering. We previously reported that simvastatin affected the dopaminergic system in the rat brain. This study aims to investigate regional changes of muscarinic M1/4 receptors in the rat brain after 4-week administration of simvastatin (1 or 10 mg/kg/day). M1/4 receptor distribution and alterations in the post-mortem rat brain were detected by [3H]pirenzepine binding autoradiography. Simvastatin (1 mg/kg/day) increased [3H]pirenzepine binding, predominantly in the prefrontal cortex (171%, P<0.001), primary motor cortex (153%, P=0.001), cingulate cortex (109%, P<0.001), hippocampus (138%, P …


Short And Long Term Changes In Nmda Receptor Binding In Mouse Brain Following Chronic Phencyclidine Treatment, Kelly Newell, Xu-Feng Huang, Katerina Zavitsanou Sep 2012

Short And Long Term Changes In Nmda Receptor Binding In Mouse Brain Following Chronic Phencyclidine Treatment, Kelly Newell, Xu-Feng Huang, Katerina Zavitsanou

Xu-Feng Huang

No abstract provided.


Effects Of Chronic Treatment Of Olanzapine And Haloperidol On Peptide Yy Binding Densities In The Rat Brain, Xu-Feng Huang, Qing Wang Sep 2012

Effects Of Chronic Treatment Of Olanzapine And Haloperidol On Peptide Yy Binding Densities In The Rat Brain, Xu-Feng Huang, Qing Wang

Xu-Feng Huang

This study examined regional changes of peptide YY (PYY) binding densities in the rat brain after chronic administration of olanzapine (1.2 mg/kg/day and haloperidol (2.0 mg/kg/day)for 36 days. PYY binding densities and distributions were detected by [125I] binding autoradiography after ratswere sacrificed either 2 h or 48 h after the last drug administration to examine both immediate and delayed effects following the drugwithdrawal. Following 2 h of drug administration, it showed that olanzapine administration significantly decreased PYY binding densities, predominantly in the posterodorsal part of medial amygdaloid nucleus (52 percent, pb0.05), dorsal part of medial geniculate nucleus (56 percent, pb0.05), …


Effects Of Antipsychotic Medication On Muscarinic M1 Receptor Mrna Expression In The Rat Brain, Kelly Newell, Xu-Feng Huang, Katerina Zavitsanou, Chao Deng, Mei Han Sep 2012

Effects Of Antipsychotic Medication On Muscarinic M1 Receptor Mrna Expression In The Rat Brain, Kelly Newell, Xu-Feng Huang, Katerina Zavitsanou, Chao Deng, Mei Han

Xu-Feng Huang

Alterations in muscarinic M1 receptor protein and mRNA expression have been revealed in post-mortem brains of schizophrenia patients. Most patients had been treated with antipsychotics, so medication effects cannot be excluded as a possible explanation for these results. With in situ hybridization, this study investigated M1 receptor mRNA expression in rats treated with the typical antipsychotic haloperidol (0.3 mg/kg/day) and the atypical antipsychotics olanzapine (1.5 mg/kg/day) and aripiprazole (2.25 mg/kg/day) for 1 or 12 weeks. Compared with the control group, haloperidol significantly increased (13-21%, P < 0.05) M1 mRNA expression in the CA1, CA2, and CA3 regions of the hippocampus after both 1 and 12 weeks of treatment, and it also increased (17%, P < 0.01) M1 mRNA expression in the substantia nigra compacta after 1 week of treatment. Olanzapine significantly increased (14-22%, P < 0.05) M1 mRNA expression in the hippocampus (CA1, CA2, and CA3) and substantia nigra compacta after 12 weeks of treatment, but not after 1 week. Aripiprazole significantly increased (17%, P < 0.01) M1 mRNA expression in the hippocampus (CA1) after both 1 and 12 week treatments and increased (12%, P < 0.05) M1 mRNA expression in the nucleus accumbens after 1 week of treatment. Despite their different affinities for muscarinic M1 receptors, all three antipsychotic medications induced a similar trend of change in M1 mRNA expression in selected brain regions. These data suggest that the decreased M1 receptor protein and mRNA expression observed in schizophrenia patients is unlikely to be a consequence of drug treatments and implicates muscarinic M1 receptors in the pharmacotherapy of the disease. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.


Fatty Acids Differentially Affect 5-Ht2 Receptor And Transporter Binding In The Rat Brain, Xu-Feng Huang, Chao Deng, Warren Bell, Teresa Du Bois Sep 2012

Fatty Acids Differentially Affect 5-Ht2 Receptor And Transporter Binding In The Rat Brain, Xu-Feng Huang, Chao Deng, Warren Bell, Teresa Du Bois

Xu-Feng Huang

No abstract provided.


Temporal And Site-Specific Brain Alterations In Cb1 Receptor Binding In High Fat Diet-Induced Obesity In C57bl/6 Mice, Xu-Feng Huang, Timothy South Sep 2012

Temporal And Site-Specific Brain Alterations In Cb1 Receptor Binding In High Fat Diet-Induced Obesity In C57bl/6 Mice, Xu-Feng Huang, Timothy South

Xu-Feng Huang

The cannabinoid CB1 receptor has been implicated in the regulation of appetite and the consumption of palatable foods. This experiment aimed to explore the involvement of the CB1 receptor in the early and late stages of high fat diet-induced obesity in C57BL/6 mice. The C57Bl/6 mice were placed on a high fat (HF) or low fat/high carbohydrate (LF) diet for 3 or 20 weeks. Quantitative autoradiography revealed that binding of [3H] CP-55,940 (CB1 receptor ligand) was elevated following 3 weeks of HF feeding in areas including the medial/ventral anterior olfactory nucleus (22.1%), agranular insular cortex (24.0%) and the hypothalamus (31.5%) …


High Dose Of Simvastatin Induces Hyperlocomotive And Anxiolytic-Like Activities: The Association With The Up-Regulation Of Nmda Receptor Binding In The Rat Brain, Kelly Newell, Xu-Feng Huang, Chao Deng, Qing Wang, Einar Wilder-Smith, Yun Li, Ying Lu, Ayse Zengin, Guo-Yuan Yang, Heng Zhao Sep 2012

High Dose Of Simvastatin Induces Hyperlocomotive And Anxiolytic-Like Activities: The Association With The Up-Regulation Of Nmda Receptor Binding In The Rat Brain, Kelly Newell, Xu-Feng Huang, Chao Deng, Qing Wang, Einar Wilder-Smith, Yun Li, Ying Lu, Ayse Zengin, Guo-Yuan Yang, Heng Zhao

Xu-Feng Huang

Statins are widely being used for the treatment of a variety of conditions beyond their original indication for lowering cholesterol. We have previously reported that simvastatin affected the dopaminergic system in the rat brain. This study aims to investigate locomotor and anxiety effects along with the regional changes of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in the rat brain after 4-week administration of simvastatin. Hyperlocomotive and anxiolytic-like activities in the rat were observed after chronic administration of high dose simvastatin (10 mg/kg/day). Distributions and alterations of NMDA receptors in the post-mortem rat brain were detected by [3H] MK-801 binding autoradiography. Simvastatin increased [3H] …


Olanzapine Differentially Affects 5-Ht2a And 2c Receptor Mrna Expression In The Rat Brain, Xinyi Huang, Xu-Feng Huang, Katerina Zavitsanou, Chao Deng, Mei Han Sep 2012

Olanzapine Differentially Affects 5-Ht2a And 2c Receptor Mrna Expression In The Rat Brain, Xinyi Huang, Xu-Feng Huang, Katerina Zavitsanou, Chao Deng, Mei Han

Xu-Feng Huang

No abstract provided.


A High N-6 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Diet Reduces Muscarinic M2/M4 Receptor Binding In The Rat Brain, Xu-Feng Huang, Chao Deng, Warren Bell, Teresa Du Bois Sep 2012

A High N-6 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Diet Reduces Muscarinic M2/M4 Receptor Binding In The Rat Brain, Xu-Feng Huang, Chao Deng, Warren Bell, Teresa Du Bois

Xu-Feng Huang

No abstract provided.


Energy-Restricted Pair-Feeding Normalizes Low Levels Of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor/Tyrosine Kinase B Mrna Expression In The Hippocampus, But Not Ventromedial Hypothalamic Nucleus, In Diet-Induced Obese Mice, Xu-Feng Huang, Qing Wang, Yinghua Yu Sep 2012

Energy-Restricted Pair-Feeding Normalizes Low Levels Of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor/Tyrosine Kinase B Mrna Expression In The Hippocampus, But Not Ventromedial Hypothalamic Nucleus, In Diet-Induced Obese Mice, Xu-Feng Huang, Qing Wang, Yinghua Yu

Xu-Feng Huang

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its receptor tyrosine kinase B (TrkB) are closely associated with the regulation of energy homeostasis, but their roles in diet-induced obesity have not been explored. Using dietary interventions, this study examined regional changes of BDNF and TrkB mRNA expression in different brain regions of diet-induced obese (DIO) and resistant (DR) mice in response to high-fat (HF), energy-restricted pair-feeding and low fat (LF) diets. Using in situ hybridization, DIO mice had significantly decreased levels of BDNF mRNA expression (¿32% to ¿37%) and TrkB (¿21% to ¿23%) in the hippocampus compared to DR mice on an HF …


Effects Of Typical And Atypical Antipsychotic Drugs On Rat Brain Muscarinic Receptors, Van Nguyen, Xu-Feng Huang, Katerina Zavitsanou, Mei Han Sep 2012

Effects Of Typical And Atypical Antipsychotic Drugs On Rat Brain Muscarinic Receptors, Van Nguyen, Xu-Feng Huang, Katerina Zavitsanou, Mei Han

Xu-Feng Huang

No abstract provided.


Brain, Mind And Behaviour - Emerging Biological Connections, Amresh Srivastava Jul 2009

Brain, Mind And Behaviour - Emerging Biological Connections, Amresh Srivastava

Amresh Srivastava

No abstract provided.